Variação morfológica e análise molecular de Dipsas turgida (Cope, 1868) (Serpentes, Dipsadidae)

Abstract

Dipsas turgida is a non-venomous, medium-sized snake with strictly nocturnal and terrestrial habits, feeding primarily on mollusks. Phylogenetic studies have identified this species as the sister species of D. mikanii, while another study suggested its non-monophyletic status. These findings indicate that clades with ambiguous or weak support are concentrated within the subfamily Dipsadinae, emphasizing the need for further studies. The species was revised by Peters in 1960, who described its morphological variation based on 14 specimens, only three of which were from Central-West region of Brazil. In this study, we analyzed the external morphology of 199 specimens of D. turgida, 133 of which are from Central-West region of Brazil and tested its phylogenetic placement using molecular data. Dipsas turgida was recovered as the sister species to D. mikanii, and formed two clades with considerable genetic distance and high support values. The molecular data, combined with the observed morphological variations, indicate that D. turgida may include an undescribed species.